Telehealth trends focus on state legal and regulatory developments impacting health care providers, telemedicine and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that provide and facilitate virtual care.
Trends over the past week:
- interstate highway compact
- professional standards
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Enactment of final laws and regulations
- south dakota Established a counseling agreement covering 33 countries.rd A country that ratifies an agreement.
- south dakota We also adopted HB 1029. It provides that licensed hearing aid dispensers and audiologists may provide services via telemedicine, provided the services are of the same quality as those provided in-person.
- in texas, the Licensing and Regulatory Commission adopted rules to reorganize and revise telemedicine standards for behavior analysts. The changes include better aligning telemedicine practice standards with those of other professions regulated by the Department of Licensing and Regulation. Similarly, the Licensing and Regulatory Commission adopted rules regarding the supervision of behavior analysts, including provisions regarding telehealth supervision.
Proposal-level legislation and rulemaking activities
highlight:
- in arizona, SB 1036 passed the first chamber. If passed, this bill would create a social work licensing agreement.
- in florida, SB 7016 passed through both chambers. If the bill becomes law, Florida will join the Interstate Medical Licensing Compact.
- in louisianathe Behavior Analysis Commission proposed regulations governing the practice of behavior analysts, including the establishment of telehealth practice standards.
- in oklahoma, the Optometry Examination Board proposed Rule 505:10-5-19, which would address telemedicine practices by optometrists and, among other things, prohibit optometrists from prescribing contact lenses or glasses via telemedicine. The rule also establishes informed consent requirements and practice requirements related to telemedicine.
- in tennessee, SB 2134 and HB 2405 each passed through one chamber. If passed, this bill would create a social work licensing agreement.
- in Utah, SB 24 passed through both chambers. If passed, the bill would require Medicaid reimbursement for telepsychiatry visits between physician assistants and psychiatrists. Currently, the law requires reimbursement only for telepsychiatric consultations between physicians and psychiatrists.
- in Virginia, HB 326 passed the first chamber. If this bill becomes law, Virginia will join the Counseling Compact.
- in west virginia, HB 4110 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would authorize the state Board of Certified Dietetics to promulgate legislative regulations regarding telemedicine practices, requirements, and definitions.
- in wisconsin, SB 158 has passed both chambers and awaits the governor's signature. If passed, this bill would create a social work licensing agreement.
Why it's important:
- States continue to increase activity around licensing agreements for various medical professionals. These states' efforts demonstrate a desire to reduce the burden of the licensing process and encourage practice in multiple jurisdictions without relinquishing authority over professional licensure. Both established agreements (such as the Interstate Medical Licensing Agreement) and new agreements (such as the Social Work Licensing Agreement) have received recent legislative activity.
- States continue to amend and clarify their standards of professional practice regarding telehealth. With the increase in the delivery of care through virtual modalities, professional boards are adopting standards governing the practice of telehealth across multiple health care professions and revising existing standards to reflect current technology and practices. I am.
